Match holder

ABSTRACT

A match holder comprises a split sleeve of resilient material such as spring steel. A single slit in the sleeve has a relatively narrow width at one end of the sleeve, a relatively wide width at the other end of the sleeve, and an intermediate portion in which the slit is tapered so as to diverge from its narrow width to its wide width. The sleeve, while generally cylindrical, is constructed with a greater diameter at the end thereof where the slit is wide. Latch means locally enlarging the slit at a part thereof where the slit is narrow are used in combination with an appropriately shaped rod member to allow a convenient attachment of an extension rod to the match holder.

llnited States Patent 91 Gibson et al.

[ Dec. 25, 1973 MATCH HOLDER 22 Filed: Mar. 16, 1972 211 App]. No.: 235,246

[52] US. Cl 294/1 R, 279/43, 287/111,

294/19 R [51] I Int. Cl. B25g 3/20 [58] Field-of Search 294/1 R, 19 R, 21;

3,256,031 6/1966 Fillweber 306/28 X Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner.lohnn'y D. Cherry Attorney-H. Talman Dybvig [5 7] ABSTRACT A match holder comprises a split sleeve of resilient material such as spring steel. A single slit in the sleeve has a relatively narrow width at one end of the sleeve, a relatively wide width at the other end of the sleeve, and an intermediate portion in which the slit is tapered so as to diverge from its narrow width to its wide width. The sleeve, while generally cylindrical, is constructed with a greater diameter at the end thereof where the slit is wide. Latch means locally enlarging the slit at a part thereof where the slit is narrow are used in combination with an appropriately shaped rod member to allow a convenient attachment of an extension rod to the match holder.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures MATCH HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This application relates to a match holder and more particularly to a match holder designed to hold both conventional book matches and conventional wood shafted matches. The invention further relates to a novel means for attaching the match holder to an extension device, however, the invention is not necessarily so limited.

2. Description of the Prior Art Examples of prior art match holding devices appear in US. Pat. Nos. 397,923, 407,883, 412,425, and 2,601,455.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The match holder of the present invention comprises a split sleeve of resilient material such as spring steel. A single slit in the sleeve has a relatively narrow width at one end of the sleeve, a relatively wide width at the other end of the sleeve, and an intermediate portion in which the slit is tapered so as to diverge from its narrow width to its wide width. The sleeve, while generally cylindrical, is constructed with a greater diameter at the end thereof where the slit is wide than at the end thereof where the slit is narrow. The sleeve is sized at its large diameter end to receive a conventional wooden match such as a kitchen match which may be wedged by force toward the smaller end of the sleeve so as to resiliently expand the diameter of the sleeve, thus developing a restoring force which causes the sleeve to compressively grip the match.

The slit is also sized at its wider end to receive the thickness of a conventional book match positioned with its broad sides generally radial with respect to the axis of the sleeve. An axial force driving the match toward the narrow end of the slit then becomes effective to wedge the book match into the tapered portion of the sleeve, thus expanding the diameter of the sleeve so as to develop a restoring force which compressively grips'the book match.

Latch means locally enlarging the slit at the narrow end of the split sleeve are used in combination with an appropriately shaped rod member to allow a convenient attachment of an extension rod to the match holder.

An object of the present'invention is to provide a new and improved match holder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a match holder adapted to hold both wood shafted matches and book matches.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved latch for joining a rod member to a split tubular member.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawings FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a match holder in accordance with the present invention assembled to an extension rod.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the match holder of the present invention illustrating, in phantom detail, the assembly of a book match thereto.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one step in the assembly of the extension rod to the match holder.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the match holder assembled to an extension rod and illustrating, in fragmentary fantom detail, the assembly of a conventional kitchen match to the match holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The match holder of the present invention is identified by the reference numeral 10. The holder comprises a single sheet of resilient material such as a spring steel which has been circularly curved to a split tubular shape. The material of the holder 10 is sufficiently stiff that it holds the split tubular shape illustrated in the drawings, but has sufficient resiliency that it may be distorted from the illustrated shape to change the diameter thereof.

The holder 10, while generally tubular in shape, has a single axially disposed slit 12 along the length thereof. The holder 10 is seen to have a first section 14 which is of a uniform and relatively small diameter, a second section 18 which is of uniform and relatively large diameter and a divergent conical section 16 making the transition from the small diameter section 14 to the large diameter section 18. The junction between the divergent section 16 and the large diameter section 18 is emphasized in FIG. 1 by a broken line 22.

The axially disposed slit 12 in the holder 10 is defined by confronting margins 20 and 21. In the small diameter section 14 the margins 20 and 21 are axially disposed and parallel except where interrupted by confronting notches 24 and 26, respectively, which define a rectangular window 27 in the section 14.

In the divergent section 16, as best appears in FIG. 2, the margins 20 and 21 are each substantially linear but diverge one away from the other in approaching the large diameter section 18. In axially traversing the large diameter section 18 the margins 20 and 21 are again parallel.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 the margins 20 and 21 are spaced sufficiently in the large diameter section 18 to receive the thickness of a conventional book match 35 but converge in progressing toward the section 14 to a dimension too small to accept the thickness of the book match. Thus, as the book match 34 is advanced between the margins 20 and 21 from the large diameter section 18 toward the small diameter section 14, the advancing end of the book match will slightly spread the margins 20 and 21 to generate a restoring force distributed peripherally about the body of the holder 10, this restoring force causing the holder 10 to firmly grip the match 34.

As appears in FIG. 4 the inside diameter of the large diameter section 18 of the holder 10 is also sized to receive a conventional wood shafted kitchen match 36 advanced concentrically into the section 18. As the advancing end of the match 36 passes into the conical section 16, the shaft of the match 36 wedges into the conical section causing a slight spread of the margins 20 and 21, thus developing a restoring torque distributed peripherally about the body of the holder 10 which causes the holder 10 to compressively grip the match 36.

It will be understood that the conventional book match (not necessarily all book matches) is wider at its broadest side than the diameters of conventional wood shafted matches (not necessarily all wood shafted matches). This means that the conventional book match cannot enter the center of the largest section 18 of the holder 10. Thus, when one seeks to advance a book match between the margins 20 and 21 at the largest section 18 of the holder 10, the interior wall of this section 18 diametrically opposite the slit between the margins 20 and 21 serves as a guide for one edge of the book match as the opposite edge enters the slit between the margins 20 and 21. This guidance by the diametrically opposite wall substantially reduces the possibility that a book match will be carelessly slipped out from between the margins 20 and 21 as it is advanced axially into the convergent portions of the margins 20 and 21. It is to be noted, of course, that as the book match is being gripped by the convergent margins 20 and 21 it is also being biased laterally by the conical wall of the holder diametrically opposite the converging margins and 21. This lateral bias is desirable because it tends to crimp the book match between the convergent portions of the margins 20 and 21 and the diametrically opposite conical wall of the section 16 of the holder 10. This crimping is desirable because it helps to brace the book match for striking. Thus, a book match seated in the holder as described can be readily struck against an abrasive surface by advancing the edge thereof which is gripped between the margins 20 and 21 ahead of the diametrically opposite wall of the holder 10.

The match holder 10, standing alone, has an obvious utility in permitting an individual to more remotely grip a match. In the preferred practice of the present invention, however, the match holder 10 is affixed to an extension rod which allows a lighted match to be more safely presented to fuel sources or the like which are inaccessible or unsafe to a human hand. By way of example, the extension rod may be a bendable rod which allows a lighted match to be presented to an awkwardly located pilot light for a gas burner.

It is deemed within the purview of the present invention to join the match holder to an extension rod using such common techniques as spot welding, soldering, cementing and the like. It is also deemed within the purview of this invention to eliminate the need for a separate extension rod by merely substantially increasing the length of the holder section 14. In the preferred practice of the present invention, however, the extension rod is designed in the manner of the extension rod 28 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings. The rod 28 is a cylindrical rod having one end beveled as shown at 30. Close to the beveled end 30 a suitably shaped die, not shown, has been employed to form a recess 32 on one portion of the rod while simultaneously forming a key 34 in the diametrically opposite portion of the rod. For this purpose the rod 28 is preferably a relatively malleable metal, the key 34 being formed by a transverse shift of the metal of the rod 28 to form the key 34. The key 34 is predeterminedly sized with respect to the window 27 in the match holder so that the key 34 will interfit this window.

As shown in FIG. 3 the beveled end of the extension rod 28 is spaced in relation to the key .34, the recess 32 and the location of the window 27 in the match holder 10 to allow the beveled end of the extension rod 28 to be advanced into the small diameter section 14 of the match holder until the remote end of the recess 32 engages the narrow end of the match holder. At this point it is possible to swing the rod 28 upwardly causing the key 34 to bear against the margins of the slit in the holder 10, slightly spreading these margins, as a full diameter section 37 of the rod 28 bears against the wall of the holder 10 which is diametrically opposite the margins 20 and 21. When the margins 20 and 21 thus spread apart by the key 34, the extension rod 28 may be thrust axially into the narrow end of the holder 10 to a position in which the key 34 enters the window 27 of the match holder 10. As the key 34 enters the window 27, the match holder 10 returns to its original diameter, firmly gripping the extension rod 28 by reason of the key 34 interfitting the window 27.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for holding either an ordinary book match or an ordinary kitchen match or the like comprising:

a generally tubular body defined by an elongate resilient sheet member circularly curved in a direction transverse to its length so as to have confronting side margins, said side margins defining a slit extending axially from one end to the opposite end of said body, said slit having a first width at one end of said body and a converging portion tapering to a smaller width in approaching the opposite end of said body, said first width being sufficient to permit an ordinary book match to pass between said confronting side margins, said converging portion being so sized that a book match introduced between the side margins at said one end of said body may be wedged between said side margins to spread the same by advancing the book match axially toward the opposite end of said tubular body, said tubular body thus exerting a restoring force to grip the book match, said body having a first internal diameter at said one end slightly larger than an ordinary kitchen match, a smaller internal diameter at said opposite end, and convergent conical wall means connecting said one end to said opposite end, said wall means being so sized that an ordinary kitchen match introduced axially to said one end may be wedged into said wall means, thus spreading said side margins to develop a restoring force whereby said body grips the kitchen match, and said opposite end being constructed to be interfit with a suitably sized rod. 

1. A device for holding either an ordinary book match or an ordinary kitchen match or the like comprising: a generally tubular body defined by an elongate resilient sheet member circularly curved in a direction transverse to its length so as to have confronting side margins, said side margins defining a slit extending axially from one end to the opposite end of said body, said slit having a first width at one end of said body and a converging portion tapering to a smaller width in approaching the opposite end of said body, said first width being sufficient to permit an ordinary book match to pass between said confronting side margins, said converging portion being so sized that a book match introduced between the side margins at said one end of said body may be wedged between said side margins to spread the same by advancing the book match axially toward the opposite end of said tubular body, said tubular body thus exerting a restoring force to grip the book match, said body having a first internal diameter at said one end slightly larger than an ordinary kitchen match, a smaller internal diameter at said opposite end, and convergent conical wall means connecting said one end to said opposite end, said wall means being so sized that an ordinary kitchen match introduced axially to said one end may be wedged into said wall means, thus spreading said side margins to develop a restoring force whereby said body grips the kitchen match, and said opposite end being constructed to be interfit with a suitably sized rod. 